Silver accounts for 10% of PV module costs
The share of silver in the total cost of PV modules has increased by around 5% in recent months, according to US analyst Matthew Watson. He told pv magazine that silver prices are set to rise, adding that the metal will eventually account for an even larger percentage of overall module costs.
Borosil Renewables posts a 74.3% y-o-y revenue growth in first nine months
The Indian solar glass manufacturer reported net revenue of around INR 300 crore during the current fiscal’s nine months ended December 2020, with the best-ever quarterly earnings of INR 140 crore coming from the third quarter.
REIL seeks 150,000 multi-crystalline silicon solar cells
Bids are invited from Indian manufacturers to supply four-/five-busbar multi-crystalline silicon solar cells rated for 4.5W peak output. Bidding closes on March 15.
Indian researchers improve perovskite-based solar cell structure
A numercal study by researchers at India’s Chitkara University has shown enhanced charge extraction in metal-perovskite-metal back-contact solar cell structure through electrostatic doping. The proposed design yielded a 59.4% improvement in power conversion efficiency over previously reported structures.
Viridian Solar unveils roof-integrated solar panels with power of 335/340 W
The new devices feature efficiencies ranging from 20.7-21%. The panels are said to be compatible with a wide range of slates and tiles, include special fixings for different batten thicknesses, and achieve the highest fire rating and wind resistance without modifications to the roof.
Indian startup Solavio Labs raises Canadian fund
The solar panel-cleaning robot startup, which saw its sales jump 125 times last year, has thus far raised three levels of funding amounting to INR 2 crore from government bodies in India, Dubai, and Canada.
High hopes from PLI scheme for solar manufacturing
India’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme—which targets 10 GW of integrated solar PV manufacturing capacity within two years—will spur demand for locally produced materials like ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) sheets, solar glass, backsheet and junction boxes, too.
Quantum dot solar cells and the search for stability
In various forms, quantum dot technology has attracted plenty of attention among PV researchers recently. And as efficiencies have crept past the 15% mark, the community is beginning to look at other factors limiting the viability of quantum dot solar cells in a commercial setting. Scientists in Germany examined the degradation mechanisms affecting different quantum dot materials; and suggest a standardization of stability testing to enable comparability of results.
Modeling the potential of lead-free perovskites
Scientists in India modeled the performance of tin-based perovskite (methylammonium tin triiodide) finding that with careful optimizations the material could achieve efficiencies beyond 28%.
New model to predict PV module cleaning cycles and resulting profits
A group of scientists in Bangladesh has developed a model to determine the optimal cleaning schedule for a PV installation at any location in the globe, requiring only the average insolation and soiling rate for a given site to make the calculation. The study also draws new conclusions regarding the influence of sandstorms and rain on soiling, and aims to be among the first studies to paint a global picture of soiling trends by region.
